Cardinals

Cardinals is an intensely captivating Canadian drama, released in 2017, that centers around loss, guilt, redemption, and the skeletons that often hide in the closets of seemingly perfect suburban families. Directed by Grayson Moore and Aidan Shipley, the film boasts an extraordinary cast led by Sheila McCarthy, who plays the protagonist, Valerie Walker. The daughter-duo – Katie Boland playing Eleanor Walker and Grace Glowicki as Zoe Walker, lend supplementary support to the narrative, contributing to the film's overall emotional depth and intensity.

Supported by an excellent screenplay, Cardinals showcases an intricately woven story of a woman’s journey faced with life-altering events. The film initiates with Valerie Walker, a middle-aged woman leading an ordinary life in an architecturally symmetrical suburb, awaiting her release from prison. The audience is soon introduced to the backstory—Valerie was convicted for drunk driving and killing a neighbor. She returns home after serving her sentence, intending to put the past behind and resettling into her normal life. However, her transition back into society is anything but seamless. Valerie is confronted with secret truths and her homecoming becomes a battlefield of hidden tensions and rising suspicions.

Sheila McCarthy delivers an extraordinary and understated performance as Valerie, oscillating between a seemingly guilt-ridden offender and a woman who knows more than she lets on. Her multifaceted performance adds weight to a compelling storyline and keeps viewers guessing until the very end. Supporting actresses, Boland and Glowicki, also give credible performances as Valerie's daughters, who are struggling to reconcile with their mother's past and what it means for their present and future. Their performances are relatable and drive the story forward, depicting their individual pain and frustration.

What is noteworthy about Cardinals is its remarkable depiction of familial relationships, the consequences of sin, and the pursuit of redemption. It is not your typical crime story; instead, it shines a light on the immediate aftermath of a crime and its myriad effects. Aside from the engaging narrative and strong performances, the movie leans into suspense but also explores the humanizing elements of its characters.

The directors, Moore and Shipley, maintain a slow-burning narrative that forces viewers to engage with the characters on an intimate level. It is not a story being rushed to its climax, but an adventurous ride that slowly uncovers each twist and detail like peeling back layers of an onion. The suspense is beautifully crafted, and the drama is well-paced. It makes for an entrancing cinema experience with defined story arcs and character development.

Moore and Shipley also excel in their use of austere settings and effective cinematography. The picturesque, tranquil suburban locale of Cardinals acts as an ironic contrast to the underlying tempests of emotions and hidden secrets. The close-up shots and the chilling stillness of the scenes accentuate the narrative tension and unease. The film's cinematography has a haunting and melancholic aura, which threads the narrative with an unsettling yet irresistible charm.

The sound design and score subtly blend with the atmospherics of the film, further enhancing the suspense and mystery attributes of the narrative. They render a nerve-wracking undercurrent to the narrative, building tension with every ticking second.

Cardinals effectively finds a balance between revealing and concealing information, making it a gratifying puzzle that the viewers would love to unravel. Through its narrative choices and strong performances, the film explores the multifaceted reality of guilt, redemption, and the lengths one might go to protect their loved ones and their secrets.

In conclusion, Cardinals is a compelling drama that tells an enthralling story of a suburban mother's journey towards redemption. It's a worthy cinematic experience, filled with beautiful performances and a mesmerizing narrative, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate slow-burning drama and suspense.